Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Med(d)ill, Med(d)l(e, v. Also: -el(l, metle, meaddil(l)e, -ule. [ME. and e.m.E. medle(n (c 1290), medele(n (a 1325), meddle(n (1393), OF. mesdler, medler, varr. of mesler: cf. Middill v. and Mell v.]

1. a. tr. To mix (one thing) with another. = Middill v. 1. b. intr. To join battle, begin fighting (with). = Middill v. 2 d. c. To set oneself in opposition, to oppose oneself (against another). Also reflex. = Middill v. in various senses.Common only after c 1530.a. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 62.
Coppa … meddillit the jus thairof [herbs] with vennomeb. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 559.
[They] chanced to meddle [and Roger gave the first stroke] c1650 Spalding II. 97.
The Kinges owne gaird … medles with thame and killis sum of thir apprenteissisc. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 50/35.
That sa obscuir men durst presume to medle thame aganis all auctoritie a1578 Pitsc. I. 164/14 (I).
[Thair durst na man] meddill [against him]

2. intr. To be active or busy oneself in, concern oneself with (any matter or affair), freq. intrusively; to meddle or interfere with, to lay hands on, appropriate (property, goods, etc.); also without const. Also reflex.(1) 1518 Elphinstone Mun. App. ii. 191.
I … Archibald erle of Angwissche … schall not … keipe her courtis nor medle in the same but if [etc.] 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I. 464.
Bot for a certane kynd of feare I have to medle in so weghty a caus 1614 Bk. Islay 234.
Medill in c1650 Spalding II. 61.
Meddill in 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 6.
Dischargit to meddill theirintill 1671 Wemyss Corr. 112.
Meaddille in 1683 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 207.
Any that medles in the mint(2) 1559 Knox VI. 34.
They have never as yet medlit with a penny wurthe of that which pertenis to the Kyrk 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. i. 119.
And will not medle with ony thing may be prejudiciall to the publick state 1578 Elphinstone Mun. 19.
[To] intromytte or medle witht the setting or letting of her laundis 1600-1610 Melvill 514. Ib. 632.
Meddell 1615 Highland P. III. 274. 1621 Ib. 311.
Sir James M^cdonald … hes so far medlit with the lyves and blood of nomberis of your Maiesteis subiectis 1622-6 Bisset II. 227/5.
Merchandis sall nocht medill witht the guidis in prysis —1636 Urie Baron Ct. 79 [see Mell v.¹ 4 (c)]. — 1641 Hibbert P. No. 12.
If he will not … condiscend to geve his anchour and tow … we will leiff ordour to medle with all 1654 Glasgow Trades House 314.
Befoir they metled with any mater a1658 Durham Commandments 80.
As for anabaptists … we are not now to meddle with them because there be few in these days that are in such an errour 1680 Glasgow Chart. II. 211.
They aught not to have medilled therwith 1680 Inverness Rec. II. 282.reflex. 1587-99 Hume 84/161.
Meddle not thy selfe with trifle matters 1622-6 Bisset II. 230/33.
Na man under ane [captain] … to medill him therewith 1668-9 Fraser Lawfulness Separ. 50.
The just owner of that land is not … to dispossess the other and meddle himself with his own land without sentence of the law 1671 Wemyss Corr. 134.
To meaddule not yourself with that affeaire(3) 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 125.
Without quhais advyse the commissioner will not medle to gif his opinioun

3. intr. To have dealings or to associate with a person or persons; also to concern oneself with. a1578 Pitsc. II. 27/22.
Bot the erle of Lennox … freindis wald nocht consent that he meddillit mair with the governour 1654 Canisbay Kirk S. Rec. in Old-lore Misc. V. 132.
Sche said she wald not medle with hir 1656 Laing MSS. I. 306.
As for your perticular medl no mor with him in it 1671 Salmon Borroustounness 97.
No … dreipster … [shall] medle or bargane with … persones … with such fishes